The Mariners have assigned Baldwin to the Single-A Inland Empire Sixty Sixers of the California League.

In a free fall after the All-Star break, the Mariners are now looking to build for the future, something that General Manager Bill Bavasi feels they accomplished by acquiring Baldwin.

“Our priority was to acquire young pitching prospects in the deal,” Bavasi said. “We think Andrew fits that mold and we like his size, his arm, and his control,” Bavasi said.

Two players currently on the Mariner’s pitching staff, Mark Lowe and Eric O’Flaherty, started the season at the Single-A level before being promoted to the big league club.

Baldwin grew up a Mariner fan and hopes that he will soon get a chance to show his stuff to the big league team.

“I’m a lot more apt to make it to the major leagues with the Mariners than the Phillies,” Baldwin said.

For now however, Baldwin will have to focus on helping a Sixty-Sixer team that is 2.5 games out of first place in its division. He also becomes the co-leader in wins for the team, tied with lefthander Justin Thomas with eight.

In a press release after the trade, Bavasi touched on the Mariner’s need to acquire young pitching as it continues the rebuilding process.

“We saw this as a good opportunity to acquire two young pitching prospects and to move two other young pitchers into our rotation right now. Jamie has been a great pro in his decade in Seattle, but we are in a position of looking beyond just this season. Making this trade allows us to continue to build the franchise,” Bavasie said.

Baldwin said that he had never been nervous before pitching, but he says he is now. His first start was scheduled for Tuesday as he tries to keep the Sixty Sixers in the hunt for a division title.